Betty Miller Ely

Services will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 147 Daniel Lake Boulevard, Jackson at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 with visitation beginning at 9:30 A.M. Her burial will be at Rosedale Cemetery in Harleston, MS (Jackson County) at 11 A.M. on Thursday August 16th with visitation beginning at 9:30 am at Rosedale United Methodist Church.

Betty Jane Miller Ely was born on December 31, 1932 in Simpson County, Mississippi to Lois Christine King. After her mother’s passing, Betty was lovingly adopted by Oliver and Jewell Miller in 1935 and brought to Jackson, where she lived for nearly all of her life. On September 2, 1949, Betty Miller married her surviving husband Vanis R. Ely.

Betty ‘s main focus was caring for her husband and three children. She spent many hours attending school functions and driving her children to a variety of activities. She occasionally worked part time at Miller’s Discount Store and for her husband at Mississippi Bedding Company. During the early years of her marriage, she worked at her mother’s restaurant Creschale’s, then known as Jewel’s. Betty’s secondary passion was her service to the Church, where she and her family spent endless hours in service and fellowship. In 1960 Betty and Vanis joined All Saints Episcopal Church. Betty’s extensive service to All Saints included the Altar Guild, Sunday School teacher, the Vestry, the Pastoral Search Committee, and Daughters of the King. An active member of All Saints for over 44 years, Betty and Vanis moved to Madison, MS in December 2004 to live with their daughter, Jewel Dean Black, and her family.

Betty and Vanis were happily married for nearly 63 years, until Betty’s passing on August 12, 2012. During their time together, Betty was a proud mother of three children: Raymond Eugene Ely (b. 1950, m. Chris Knapp), Jewel Dean Ely Black (b. 1955, m. Mitchell Black), and Christine Jane Ely Macumber (b.1956, m. Kevin Macumber). Betty is also survived by seven proud and loving grandchildren: Tammy, Mitchell, Adam, Wayne, Sara, Chad, and Corey; three great-grandchildren: Kristine, Logan, and Ely Reed; and two great-great-grandchildren: Hayden and Axel.

The Ely family extends a special thanks to Mississippi Home Care, Manhattan Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and staff, Dr. Timothy Cannon and his nurse practitioner Molly, and Dr. Alfredo Figueroa.

Memorials can be made to:

Camp John I. Hay

C/O Boys and Girls Clubs

1450 W. Capitol Street

Jackson, MS 39203